The staff at Sunset Hill Farm County Park has been extremely busy putting up
hundreds of light displays of all shapes and sizes in anticipation of the
Porter County Parks Dept.’s holiday tradition, the Winter Lights Night
Festival.

These lights will be turned on for the first time this weekend, Saturday,
November 16, at the Festival from 3 to 8 p.m. at Sunset Hill Farm County
Park, 775 Meridian Rd., Liberty Twp., at Rt. 6. Cost is $5 per car.

A variety of activities and attractions will be available including a grand
finale firework display at 7:30 p.m.

Children will get to meet Santa Claus, have their faces painted, make
crafts, decorate sugar cookies, write a letter to Santa and much more. A
student art show and contest will be on display, with the public getting to
vote for their favorite work. Many area schools are participating in this
portion of the festival.

Families will also have the chance to take a wagon ride to admire the
hundreds of light displays that illuminate the park. The Winter Lights Night
Fireworks Show, which has become a Porter County tradition, will light up
the sky to close out the evening, and a variety of vendors will be offering
food.

“We have all worked very hard to make this an unforgettable event for each
and every person, young and old who attend,” Porter County Parks and
Recreation Communications Director Geri Rose said. “Our maintenance staff
starts putting up hundreds of light displays before Halloween, and our
program staff puts together an evening of great activities that both kids
and adults can enjoy.”

The light displays are unique to the park, and many of them were custom-made
by members of the maintenance staff. Some of the displays include a roller
coaster that is over 20 feet tall, a farm scene consisting of various
pieces, and Santa taking off into the air with his reindeer.

“People love the light displays at Sunset Hill Farm, and Winter Lights Night
offers a chance to come to the park and enjoy them at a fun, affordable
festival with lots to do.” Rose said.

Winter Lights Night Festival will also be a drop off site for the Dunes
Leathernecks Marine Corps’ Toys for Tots and Porter County Parks is asking
that each child who comes to see Santa bring in a canned good to be donated
to a local food pantry.

The Winter Lights displays will still be available for people to enjoy after
Winter Lights Night, with a free drive through beginning on Thanksgiving Day
from 5 to 9 p.m. It will then run every Friday through Sunday, from to 9
p.m. through New Year’s Day. Donations are always welcome.

For more information on this event or the drive through, call 219-465-3586
or visit